The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-11
Lingg,s Farewell to His Friends.


Lings's Farewell to His Friends.
On the day the cells were searched-last Sun
day-Lingg wrote the subjoined letter:
Cook COUNTY JAIL Nov. 6, 1887.
To Worthy Citizen =:
You babe me yesterday to write you letter which
the experiences that have through to-day and
my views in regard to the same will be just what you
e.ad nsa1 sit nm IN onr
cells, and So to shorten what would otherwise be
i0 a as Me gea that at O'Clock this morning
stin rested in the arms OF Morpheus Suddenly the
to rub the sleep from my eyes realized that another
hand had tax en- hold of mine. behed two mnions
OF a Inc baH @ @ ne s sn9 tst
have done nothing to justify such treatment seized
fore knew what had happened found myself outside
my cell. Lucky for there no ladies about to
exit but scantily clothed Next beheld our faithful
guardian friend Engel, who in view of his thin
and who in fact asked if he would not be so kind
and condescendng, il it possible for him to do
So to step into the lawyers Here we all had splen-
did chance to see them ransack our cells, ana hrst
throw everything out and then toss them back again
Finding nothing they quickly provided other cells
for the ground floor and arranged them for
occupancy. At IL o'clock took possession of them
and at the time citizens Parsons and Fischer all
became tenants OF our row by Spies, Schwao and
Felden. was placed in compartment shut off from
the rest of the jail by iron bars In this nclosure
deputies were stationed TOR the purpose OF both pre-
venting from seeing friends and from receiving
packages from them. Friends Fischer, Engel and
Parsons were put in cells on the same tier but outside
the Enclosure have spoken of, but still situated
that they could have no with the pris
oners in the jail Spies, Schwab aud Feiden were re-
turned to their old cells. You have my dear friend
already how all this was, doubt done for
grand display 1t was described by your less faithful
colleagues in the leading daily papers By the dim
light which stole into my cell read the usual
Sundays rot in the Fackel see the fact, which has
long been known me- that the aristocrecy and the
bourgeosie feel that our hanging will not benefit
them.
On top of this came the that if the condemned
had agreed to ask for cemency they could have been
saved from the gallows. Whether this standing by
each other took the form of signing a petition for
mercy took the shape of miserably begging for
don. 1t was said, would have made no difference The
plundering press also claims that should in the in
terest of the working classesnot to anything of
the arstocracygive in, SO that we should not die
well all others in the secret, know full we'll that
firm adherence to the plan laid out would lave saved
US from the galows Even II it should not have done
SO, what then2
now Judge McAlster, if the report of the opium
derer is true that in the event of execution
the arstocracy, those monopolists, those powerful
capitalists will in few all they possess go
up in smoke and flame. Now, who Is this Judge Nc
Alisterl bourgeois of most noble mien2 Snail L,
them again tell you of the terrible plight
ina Shall also allude to former condition, and
how true to revolutionary training agtated
not alone by speech, by writing but by deeda But,
then you know it is a wise well as true saying,
trust You know also that not handle
other subjects well this My hatred of the
the working people, and which can well say INV.
without egotism, dsinterested love for the of
freedom has kept in every instance not alone from
begging for mercy, but has enabled to remain firm
and demand nothing but simply Justice.
1t was for these reasons that l, well Parsons
Engel and Fischer, were compelled to resist the
pleadings of amnesty committee and refuse to
sign the petition they presented Realizing that
less stutify my principles escape the grim
monster, now calmly face DEATH and in view of the
results that it will bring about favor of anarchism
look my taking off with fear. You, worthy cit
izen, know this full well as do. and every other
true Anarchist know that have a greater enemy to
face than death and that is the so-caed upper class
of the present day, and to overcome whom to be
true to training, be willing only to sac
al
treated the propaganda of deeds in the abstract
realize that those who have amassed fortunes. and
thus become capitalists, not alone the of
my fellow-workmen, but also their oppressors and
murderers. / know also that unless the laboring
people get their rights by of legislation that
the day is not far distant when the awful conse-
quenoes of this continuous persecution of prole
tariat will be manifested and revolution that all
know must naturally follow such state of affairs, will
be reality. The continuous aggregation of capital
caused by the production of does not better
the condition of the working classes This does not
uire any wonderful degree of intellect to compre
bend. Through the propaganda of the deed only can
best interests be served and the condition of the
workingman bettered.
This has been fully proven by the events of the past
two years. during which time we have openly taught
our masters that class distinction brought about by
their fundamentally, is not the best for all
cerned. In view of all the circumstances of the
naturally find that, despite the facts that philan
thropists trying to induce not to invite the
fate that overshadows that it is bound to
for the authorities determined though they know
that not responsible for the throwing of the
Sn Il Hell that ONT Of onr seu
tences which will be nothing or less than
der will result in the overthrowing of tyrants. Now
dearest citizen, will bring this writing, which has
been done under great difficulties, to a close. You
by the manuscript that my facilities, well
the light not of the very best If you will
have this document translated and made public in
both languages you viii not alone enable to make
known the position occupy in regard to all the mat
treated in this letter. but you will also fulfill the
last wish that shall ever express to you.
Now, with last and earnest farewell to all friends
and comrades, and with final wishes for their prosper
ty close in view of the certainty that shall
have the chance of seeing you again. my beloved
rade with earnest and hearty wish for future
in life. Hoch die Anarche! Your comrade,
Louis LINGO